Intermountain Healthcare Announces New Company to Elevate Value-Based Care Capabilities

Jul 16

Intermountain Healthcare has formed a new comprehensive health platform company focused on elevating value-based care capabilities with providers, payers, healthcare systems, and accountable care organizations.

Named Castell, the company will enable other organizations to accelerate their transition from volume to value-based systems of care, while keeping care more affordable and accessible.

“Intermountain Healthcare’s mission is to help people live the healthiest lives possible. This commitment is the same no matter where, when, or with whom people get care,” said Marc Harrison, MD, Intermountain president and CEO. “Castell is a critical component of Intermountain’s broad vision for healthier communities. It creates a new path for providers to access the support they need to provide high quality, affordable care to their patients across the nation.”

Rajesh Shrestha has been named as the president and CEO of Castell. In addition to leading Castell, Shrestha serves as Intermountain vice president and chief operating officer of Community Based Care. He has more than two decades of experience accelerating other health companies move from fee-for-service to value-based care. “Healthcare’s ongoing shift from volume to value-based systems of care enables providers, health systems, and payers to take a more holistic approach to managing the health of their patients, but also creates more financial risk or rewards,” said Shrestha. “The health platform capabilities, tools, and resources that Castell provides will strengthen the ability of the health ecosystem to thrive in a value-based care environment.”

Castell’s foundation is built on lessons learned, adapted based on the successes and obstacles encountered at Intermountain, within local provider networks, and other population health-focused programs. It will offer a comprehensive platform of tools and services to support transformation and improvement:

Digital tools to address virtual care, patient experience, and social determinants of health

Access to cutting-edge initiatives and innovation coming out of Intermountain Healthcare

Opportunity to utilize care pathways and clinical best practices developed by Intermountain Healthcare

Intermountain has experienced many successes with its value-based care management programs. For example, in 2018, Intermountain introduced its “Reimagined Primary Care” model for physicians and patients, which is now being extended to more providers through Castell. This focus on preventive care enabled physicians to spend more time with high-risk patients to get upstream of potential health problems. After just one year, the program produced strong results:

60% reduction in Medicare Advantage admissions

25% fewer commercial insurance admissions

20% decreased per-member per-month costs

Improved patient ratings

Improved physician satisfaction

“Proven methods for simplifying value-based care are needed across the healthcare industry,” said Shrestha. “Backed by Intermountain’s day-to-day frontline experience with a focus on population health management, Castell will deliver impactful solutions that help other organizations improve outcomes and keep costs more affordable.”

Intermountain Healthcare has formed a new comprehensive health platform company focused on elevating value-based care capabilities with providers, payers, healthcare systems, and accountable care organizations.

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Intermountain Healthcare is a Utah-based, not-for-profit system of 24 hospitals (includes "virtual" hospital), a Medical Group with more than 2,400 physicians and advanced practice clinicians at about 160 clinics, a health plans division called SelectHealth, and other health services. Helping people live the healthiest lives possible, Intermountain is widely recognized as a leader in clinical quality improvement and efficient healthcare delivery.